The Iron Guru-Vince Gironda Store

About us

Vince Gironda, known as The Iron Guru, was an innovative trainer who was lightyears ahead of his time. He was the trainer of champions like Larry Scott, Don Howorth, Mohamed Makkawy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kay Baxter, and countless others. Vince Gironda always believed in developing the physique as aesthetically as humanly possible and always doing it the natural way. He believed, "the human body is God's greatest creation, that its development should be maximized, but always with respect for the individual's skeletal and genetic potential." Vince shied away from artificial enhancement substances, like steroids, to build the natural physique and always encouraged his gym members to use natural nutrition to build the physique. Let's build your Wild Physique with Vince Gironda, The Iron Guru!

Want to train with Vince Gironda as your personal coach? Now you can with this New Remastered DVD

Want to perform exercises like Vince Gironda taught the champs? Now you can with this New Remastered DVD

Want to learn some great nutrition from the Iron Guru? Now you can with this New Remastered DVD

Want to see Vince Gironda demonstrate exercises from his famous book Unleashing the Wild Physique? Now you can with this New Remastered DVD

The Iron Guru

Products

*NOTE: Handles and Ropes are made according to Pre-orders.

*IMPORTANT FOR SHIPPING: Please do NOT choose Media Mail or any type of Envelope if the following items are going to be purchased as they cannot be shipped using those options: Vince's Racing Dive Handle, Vince's Long Pull Handle and Vince's Tricep Rope Pull. These require box shipping.

Kay Baxter

Ms. Baxter was Vince Gironda's prized female student. She was an Olympia contestant and a winner of many bodybuilding contests. Kay Baxter followed Vince's instructions exactly and developed a physique envied by other female bodybuilders. Kay was known for her beautiful development and her powerful strength. Kay is missed by all who knew her in the bodybuilding community.

Larry Scott

As the first crowned Mr. Olympia, Larry Scott was one of Vince's most famous bodybuilders. Mr. Scott was very dedicated to Vince and did not question Vince's methods because he knew they produced results faster than any other trainer at the time. Larry Scott is known for his Fabulous Delts and his famous Bicep/Tricep combination.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

When Arnold first came to the United States, he was first introduced to Vince Gironda by Joe Weider. Vince immediately placed Arnold on a rigorous training regime. Arnold quickly won numerous awards and became known as the Austrian Oak. Arnold become one of the best Olympians of our time, winning seven Mr. Olympia titles.

Mohamed Makkawy

Makkawy was known as "The Magic Egyptian" to many who knew him. He competed against competitors almost double his size and gained acclaim in the bodybuilding world. Makkawy, already a champion, went to Vince Gironda to put the finishing touches on his great physique. It was through Vince's training that Makkawy developed a physique that came in second place to Lee Haney at the Mr. Olympia contest. Some say that Makkawy should have won that event due to his size, development, charisma and fantastic posing routine.

Gladys Portugues

Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful competitors ever to enter the Ms. Olympia contest, Gladys Portugues epitomizes what a female physique should look like. Gladys trained at Vince's Gym and with the guidance of Vince and training partner Mohamed Makkawy, she developed a fantastic physique with outstanding deltoid development that was most envied by competitors at the Ms. Olympia contest.

Don Howorth

Don Howorth, known as Mr. Delts, was a no-nonsense bodybuilder. Focused like a laser, Mr. Howorth would never let anyone ruin his concentration. When Don went to Vince's Gym he had sub-par development, especially in the shoulder area. With Vince's guidance and tutoring, he developed one of the best deltoids for that era. Hence, his name, Mr. Delts. Don Howorth was also one of Larry SCott's training partners at Vince's Gym. Together they were some of the best members ever to train at Vince's.

The Real Trainer to the Stars

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood, one of Vince's model star trainees, trained with focused intensity and quiet charisma.

Erik Estrada

As one of Vince's most generous and beloved actor trainees, Erik Estrada listened intensely and trained with purpose.

Cher

With a great sense of humor and a dedicated attitude, Vince considered Cher a great sport.

Carl Weathers

Vince considered Carl Weathers to be his most naturally gifted bodybuilder who had the talent to become an Olympic Champion. He trained with laser-focused intensity at Vince's Gym.

Michael Landon

Considered one of the "regular boys" at Vince's Gym, Michael Landon always trained with progressive techniques.

George Hamilton

George Hamilton was considered by Vince to be a sharp-witted individual, who lives life to the fullest. He trained with great enthusiasm and joyful demeanor at Vince's Gym.

Sneak peak at Vince's Gym

The Famous Routines at Vince's Gym

four sides to a muscle

The Four Sides to a Muscle was Vince's most popular training routine at his Gym. All new members (beginners and Advanced) were placed on this workout if they wanted to train with him. It consisted of a different exercise for each side of a muscle. For example let's take The Biceps:
Biceps
1-Body drag curls
2-Preacher curls
3-Spider curls
4-Seated incline curls
Each exercise above will work a different aspect of the biceps.

8 sets of 8 reps

The 8x8 routine was Vince Gironda's most grueling workout and most misunderstood. This routine was not for the faith at heart. He would say, "Only Champions in my Gym were able to perform this workout and still make progress without going into what he called, OVERTONIS ( over training)."
It is performed in this manner:
Vince would assign one exercise and the bodybuilder would perform 8 sets of 8 reps per that exercise. Let's take the Pectorals (chest)
1-Neck presses 8x8
2-Incline DB presses 8x8
3-Incline flys 8x8
4-Decline flys 8x8
The secret to his 8x8 routine was to train hard, but for not more than 45 minutes to keep making progress.

circuit TRaining

This was the workout that the Iron Guru was gravitating to back in 1992.. He believed that this was the future of how workouts were to become (Once again he was correct). This is one of the Best routines for cardiovascular fitness and to shape up the body in the quickest possible way. Performed like this:
You select one exercise for each body part and you perform one set of 12 reps each until you are finished with the routine. A person can perform as many circuits as his constitution will allow without over-training. This routine was given to many of the movie stars Vince trained.

The Mind in Bodybuilding by Vince Gironda

Vince Gironda was very ahead of his time when he advocated that bodybuilders should use their Mind (Focused Concentration) if they wanted to become Champions. Vince would say it was not enough to train, use natural nutrition or recuperation, one had to use the mind to succeed.

The Iron Guru stated that he noticed something different that Champs were using in his gym that others were not using during their workouts, that was the Mental Aspect of the mind.

Using the Mind when working out will help develop the physique faster and better because of the focused attention a bodybuilder puts into his exercises.

He would constantly tell me to "Connect The Mind to the Muscle" when doing any type of movement.

So use your Mind (Focused Attention) when working out. Stay in The Present moment and don't let your mind wander when you are performing your exercises. REMEMBER: "Connect The Mind To The Muscle" -Vince Gironda.